Everything You Should Know About Your Clitoral Hood

The clitoral hood is a fold of skin that envelopes and shields the glans clitoris. The glans often gets the spotlight when it comes to sexual sensation, but there’s much more to the clitoris than just the visible tip.

Let’s be direct. If you’ve ever used a hand mirror to examine your vulva closely, you’ve likely wondered about that flap of skin sitting above your labia.

That flap is your clitoral hood — a skin fold that covers and protects the glans clitoris. It’s essentially the female counterpart to the male foreskin. Like labia, clitoral hoods vary widely in form, size, and color.

Many people worry their hood doesn’t look “normal,” but there really isn’t a single normal. Check out these images of different clitoral hoods to see how diverse they can be.

Locating your clitoral hood

Understanding the function of the clitoral hood starts with knowing where it is. The glans clitoris lies within the outer and inner labia. You’ll spot the clitoral hood at the very top of the inner lips.

Want a closer inspection? Here’s how to locate your clitoral hood:

• Grab a hand mirror and undress from the waist down.
• Sit on a chair or the edge of your bed and part your legs, placing one foot on the seat or bed.
• Hold the mirror between your legs and angle it so you can view your vulva.
• Use your free hand to separate your outer and inner lips.
• Look at the highest point of your “slit” and you’ll notice a flap of skin attached to your inner lips.

Pro tip: Sexual arousal causes the clitoris to swell, which usually makes both it and the hood easier to spot.

What purpose does the clitoral hood serve?

The clitoris houses over 15,000 nerve endings. Imagine those nerves being constantly rubbed by clothing all day — uncomfortable, right?

The clitoral hood protects this very sensitive tissue from excessive stimulation and irritants from the environment.

Glands within the clitoral hood also secrete a lubricant called sebum, which helps the hood glide smoothly over the glans and shaft of the clitoris.

Does the clitoral hood retract on its own?

Yes. During sexual arousal your glans clitoris becomes engorged, similar to a penis. This enlargement often pushes the hood back, revealing the glans.

If the hood is larger, it might not retract as readily. That can indicate clitoral adhesions, which develop when bacteria, dead skin cells, and sebum accumulate beneath the hood.

Untreated adhesions can cause significant pain and interfere with sexual pleasure and orgasm.

Improving hygiene can help prevent or resolve clitoral adhesions. If you’re uncomfortable, try soaking in a warm bath and cleaning the area more frequently.

If those measures don’t help, consult a healthcare professional. They can examine the area and remove any adhesions if needed.

Can you manually retract the clitoral hood?

Generally, yes. The hood is attached to the inner labia. Placing your fingers at the top of the lips and lifting the skin should allow you to pull the hood back enough to reveal the glans clitoris.

You can also put one finger on each inner lip, spread them, and gently pull upward toward your navel to expose the glans.

Does hood size influence the ability to have a clitoral orgasm?

Possibly. A hood with thicker or more tissue can change sensation, but manually retracting the hood or trying different positions often addresses that.

Sometimes applying firmer pressure when stimulating the clitoris through the hood is all that’s needed to enhance pleasure.

Ultimately, it depends on personal preference. Some people prefer stimulation over the hood and find direct contact with the glans too intense.

Can clitoral hood piercings boost sexual pleasure?

A 2005 study found that vertical clitoral hood piercings don’t significantly change orgasm or pleasure, though they appear to raise sexual desire and frequency of arousal.

It’s unclear whether these outcomes apply to other clitoral piercings, like horizontal clitoral hood or clitoral glans piercings.

Whether a clitoral hood piercing alters your sexual experiences depends on you. Preference, hood shape and size, and sensitivity levels vary widely among individuals.

Techniques for stimulating the clitoral hood

With the right techniques, you can achieve satisfying pleasure and use your hood—regardless of its form—to your benefit. Try these tips:

Use lubricant: Whether solo or with a partner, lube is helpful. Even if you feel naturally wet, adding lubricant can boost pleasure and prevent discomfort.

Explore with your fingers: Using your fingers is an excellent way to discover what feels best. Try rubbing the clitoris over the hood, then expose the glans by pulling the hood back with one hand to stimulate directly. Play with pressure and stroke patterns to find what works.

Try the “hand job” move: One pleasurable technique is to take the hood between your index and middle fingers and glide it up and down.

Incorporate a sex toy: Vibrators can be particularly effective for clitoral stimulation and may help if a thicker hood reduces direct sensation.

Experiment with positions: Vaginal intercourse alone is less likely to produce orgasm than clitoral stimulation, but certain positions can offer the best of both stimulation types.

Consider the “riding high” approach: Lie on your back and have your partner angle their penis or dildo so the upper shaft rubs the clitoris during thrusting. Done correctly, each thrust can move the hood or apply pressure over it to stimulate the clitoris.

Is clitoral hood reduction an option?

For people with excess tissue over the clitoris that leads to recurrent yeast infections, discomfort during sex, or reduced sexual sensitivity, a clitoral hood reduction may be considered.

This surgical procedure, also known as a hoodectomy or clitoral unhooding, removes surplus tissue to reduce hood size. It’s commonly performed in combination with labiaplasty.

Healing times vary. Expect some pain and discomfort as you recover.

If you’re considering a hoodectomy or another procedure, speak with a healthcare provider. They can answer questions, outline risks, and refer you to a qualified surgeon if appropriate.

When performed by a skilled, board-certified plastic surgeon, female genital cosmetic surgery has been associated with low complication rates and high patient satisfaction.

The takeaway

If the size or shape of your clitoral hood concerns you or seems to affect sexual pleasure, consult a doctor or other healthcare professional.

They can address your questions and discuss sensation, sexual function, and surgical options if relevant.

---